Systems and methods for providing split control of multiple execution environments

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media implementing techniques for providing split control of an execution environment. According to aspects of the disclosure, a first entity may be configured to exert control over presentation related aspects (e.g., the look and feel) of services provided by a second entity, while the second entity may exert control over backend processing and execution of the services. To facilitate the different portions of the split control, one or more servers may be configured to provide a first execution layer, a second execution layer, and a second execution layer control panel. The first execution layer may perform operations for executing the provisioning of the service. The second execution layer may perform operations for presenting the computing/execution environment for providing the service, and the second execution environment control panel may provide the first entity to customize/modify presentation related aspects of the computing/execution environment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to techniques for integratingsystems of different entities, and more particularly to systems andmethods for providing split control of multiple execution environments.

BACKGROUND

Entities (e.g., businesses or individuals) that want to offer newservices often have to invest significant amounts of resources and timein order develop and test the infrastructure (e.g., servers, networks,security systems and protocols, etc.) necessary to deploy thoseservices. The development and testing process increases the operatingcosts for the entities, and delay the deployment of the service. Also,the newly developed infrastructure (e.g., systems, networks, etc.) mayalso require integration with, or modification of existinginfrastructure (e.g., existing networks, servers, point of sale (POS)terminals, etc.), further complicating and delaying the deployment ofthe service, and increasing the complexity of the day-to-day operationsof the entity. This complicated process often prohibits or discouragesmany entities from investing the time and resources required to deploynew services, which in turn causes patrons of those entities to seekthose services elsewhere, or causes reduced productivity for employeesof those entities.

A further challenge faced by many entities when deploying new servicesis government regulations, which may place restrictions on how theservices are implemented or provided, and often specify variousrequirements for auditing the provisioning of the services to users(e.g., for purposes of proving up compliance with the relevantregulations). In such instances, an entity desiring to deploy a newservice that is regulated by the government must not only invest in theinfrastructure necessary to provide the service, but may also have toinvest in personnel that have expertise in understanding the relevantgovernmental regulations, such as for auditing and regulatory compliancepurposes.

As an alternative to developing the systems and regulatory complianceinfrastructure, an entity may seek to become a franchisee of anotherentity that already offers those same services. While this may reduce oreliminate one or more of the problems described above (e.g., because thefranchisor may already have the necessary infrastructure developed, andmay provide regulatory compliance assistance to its franchisees), thisroute often proves unsatisfactory to many entities. For example, as afranchisee, an entity is often limited with respect to control over howthose services are provided. Additionally, the franchisees may have lesscreative freedom to customize the services they seek to provide to suittheir users.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readablestorage media implementing techniques and computer architectures forproviding split control of an execution environment. According toaspects of the disclosure, a first entity may provide a service, and mayexert control of the underlying functionality that providers theservice, while a second entity may exert control over presentationrelated aspects (e.g., the look and feel) of the service. To facilitatethe different portions of the split control, one or more servers may beconfigured to provide a first execution layer, a second execution layer,and a second execution layer control panel. The first execution layermay perform operations for executing the underlying functionality thatprovides of the service. The second execution layer may performoperations for exerting control over the presentation of acomputing/execution environment for providing the service, and thesecond execution layer control panel may provide tools and processesthat allow the second entity to customize/modify presentation relatedaspects of the computing/execution environment (e.g., the secondexecution layer control panel may exert control over a presentationlayer of the second execution layer), thereby enabling the second entityto customize the computing environment utilized to provide the service.

In accordance with one aspect, a method for providing split control ofan interactive computing environment that executes one or more servicesis disclosed. The method may include configuring at least one server toexecute a first execution layer and a second execution layer. The firstexecution layer may correspond to a first service that is implemented bya first entity, and the second execution layer may include apresentation layer that governs the presentation of a computingenvironment while taking into account execution requirements of thefirst execution layer. The method may include providing a secondexecution layer control panel configured to provide controlfunctionality to a second entity over one or more configuration aspectsof the second execution layer. Additionally, the method may includeproviding said second entity with access to the at least one server inorder to utilize the interactive computing environment to provide theservice. The second entity may be able to provide the first service ofthe first entity to an end user while also controlling the secondexecution layer, including controlling the presentation of the computingenvironment which facilitates the first service.

In accordance with another aspect, a computer-readable storage mediastores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform operations for providing splitcontrol of an execution environment is disclosed. The operations mayinclude configuring at least one server to execute a first executionlayer and a second execution layer. The first execution layer maycorrespond to a first service that is implemented by a first entity, andthe second execution layer may include a presentation layer that governsthe presentation of a computing environment while taking into accountexecution requirements of the first execution layer. The operations mayalso include providing a second execution layer control panel configuredto provide control functionality to a second entity over one or moreconfiguration aspects of the second execution layer. Additionally, theoperations may also include providing the second entity with access tothe at least one server in order to utilize the interactive computingenvironment to provide the service. The second entity may be able toprovide the first service of the first entity to an end user while alsocontrolling the second execution layer, including controlling thepresentation of the computing environment which facilitates the firstservice.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a system configured to implementa computer architecture for providing split control of an executionenvironment is disclosed. The system may include at least one serverconfigured execute a first execution layer, and a second executionlayer. The first execution layer may correspond to a service that isimplemented by a first entity, and the second execution layer mayinclude a presentation layer that governs the presentation of acomputing environment for providing the service while taking intoaccount execution requirements of the first execution layer. Aspects ofthe system may further include configuring the at least one server toprovide a second execution layer control panel that provides controlfunctionality to a second entity over one or more configuration aspectsof the second execution layer, such as aspects relating to controllingthe look and feel of the computing environment to provide the service.Aspects of the system may further provide the second entity with accessto the at least one server in order to utilize the interactive computingenvironment to provide the service.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription that follows may be better understood. Additional featuresand advantages will be described hereinafter which form the subject ofthe claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthe conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilizedas a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying outthe same purposes of the present application. It should also be realizedby those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the application as set forth in theappended claims. The novel features which are believed to becharacteristic of embodiments described herein, both as to itsorganization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages will be better understood from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided forthe purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended asa definition of the limits of the present embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to thefollowing descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a system for providingsplit control of an execution environment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a split control computingenvironment according to aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating additional aspects of a systemfor providing split control of an execution environment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating additional aspects of a systemfor providing split control of an execution environment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a system for providingsplit control of an execution environment for providing money transferservices; and

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for providing split control of acomputing environment according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrating aspects of a systemfor providing split control of an execution environment is shown as asystem 100. In an aspect, the computing/execution environment may beassociated with a service provided by a first entity (e.g., a serviceprovider). In an aspect, a second entity (e.g., a partner of the serviceprovider) may exert control over presentation related aspects of theservice, while the first entity may exert control over the underlyingfunctionality that provides the service. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thesystem 100 includes a server 110, a network(s) 140, and a partnerlocation 150. The network(s) 140 may communicatively couple the server110 and one or more devices of the partner location 150, and mayfacilitate the providing of a service to one or more users associatedwith the second entity, as described in more detail below.

In an aspect, the network 140 may be a local area network (LAN), awireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), apublic network (e.g., the Internet), a private network, a cellular datanetwork, another type of network, or a combination thereof. The network140 may operate according to one or more communication protocols, suchas a transport control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), an Ethernetprotocol, a cellular communication protocol (e.g., a 3^(rd) Generation(3G) wireless communication protocol, a 4^(th) Generation (4G)/long termevolution (LTE) wireless communication protocol, etc.), another wired orwireless communication protocol, or a combination thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the server 110 may include one or more processors112, a communication interface 114, one or more input/output (I/O)devices 116, and a memory 120. The communication interface 114 may beconfigured to communicatively couple the server 110 to a network, suchas the network(s) 140, using one or more communication protocols, suchas one or more of the various communication protocols described abovewith respect to the network 140. The one or more I/O devices 116 mayinclude a keyboard, a mouse, a barcode scanner, a scale, a touchscreendevice, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a financial cardreader, another type of I/O device, or a combination thereof. The memory120 may store instructions 122 and a database 124. In an aspect, theinstructions 122 may include instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors 112, cause the one or more processors 112 to performoperations for providing a service according to aspects of the presentdisclosure, as described in more detail below with reference to FIGS.1-6. The database 124 may store various information associated with theoperations of the server 110. For example, the database 124 may storeinformation associated with one or more users (e.g., user profileinformation, password and user authentication information, userpreference information, etc.), transaction log information (e.g., a logof various transactions, such as instances of providing the service toone or more end users), analytics information (e.g., informationindicating historical trends for specific users or groups of users),inventory information, configuration information (e.g., computingenvironment configuration information, service information requirements,security protocol configuration information, encryption/decryption keyinformation, and the like), audit log information, rules (e.g., rulesrelating to government regulations, rules for determining whether aninstance of providing the service satisfies the applicable rulesrelating to government regulations, etc.), graphical user interface(GUI) configuration information (e.g., parameters specifying thelocations and other presentation related aspects of a computingenvironment that has been customized by the second entity, etc.), othertypes of information, or a combination thereof. In an additional oralternative aspect, the database 124 may be stored at a memory that isexternal to the server 110, such as at a network attached storage (NAS)device accessible to the server 110 via the network(s) 140, at adatabase server (not shown in FIG. 1), or at an external storage devicecoupled to the server 110 (e.g., such as a universal serial bus (USB)storage device). In still another additional or alternative aspect, theserver 110 may be configured to provide or have access to two databases,with a first database configured to store information on behalf of thefirst entity in connection with providing the service, and a seconddatabase configured to store information on behalf of the second entityin connection with providing the service.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the server 110 may beconfigured to provide the service to end users of the second party. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the server 110 may be configured to executea first execution layer 130, a second execution layer 132, and a secondexecution layer control panel 134. The first execution layer 130 maycorrespond to the service that is implemented by the first entity. Forexample, the first execution layer 130 may correspond to a serviceoffered by a service provider. In an aspect, the first execution layer130 may specify one or more security procedures and/or protocols to beused during the providing of the service. In an aspect, the securityprocedures and/or protocols executed by the first execution layer 130may be configured to satisfy one or more government or industry specificregulations. In an aspect, the first entity may exert control over thesecurity procedures and/or protocols executed by the first executionlayer 130.

The second execution layer 132 may include a presentation layer thatgoverns the presentation of a computing environment, such as theexemplary computing environment described and illustrated below withreference to FIG. 2, while taking into account execution requirements ofthe first execution layer 130. Further, the server 110 may be configuredto provide the second execution layer control panel 134 that enables thesecond entity, such as a partner of the first entity, to exert controlover functionality that governs one or more configuration aspects of thesecond execution layer 132.

The interactive computing environment provided by the server 110 mayenable the second entity to provide the service of the first entity toend users, such as a customer or employee of the first entity, whilealso allowing the first entity to control the second execution layer132, which, as described in more detail below, includes controlling thepresentation of the interactive computing environment which facilitatesthe providing of the service to the end users. In an aspect, theinstructions 122 may include instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors 112, cause the one or more processors 112 to performoperations for implementing the first execution layer 130, the secondexecution layer 132, the second execution layer control panel 134, or acombination thereof.

During operation, presentation of a computing environment configured toprovide one or more services may be initiated. According to aspects ofthe present disclosure, the first execution layer 130 and the secondexecution layer 132 may provide for split control over the computingenvironment. For example, the first execution layer 130 may exertcontrol over the computing environment with respect to execution of theunderlying functionality for providing the service to a user, and thesecond execution layer 132 may exert control over presentation relatedaspects (e.g., the look and feel) of the computing environment.

Referring briefly to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating a splitcontrol computing environment according to aspects of the presentdisclosure is shown as a computing environment 200. In an aspect, thecomputing environment 200 may be provided as a web page. In anadditional or alternative aspect, the computing environment 200 may be astandalone application (e.g., an application executing on a workstationor other electronic device located at the partner location 150 of FIG.1). As shown in FIG. 2, the computing environment 200 may provide agraphical user interface (GUI) configured to capture information from,and/or present information to, a user. The computing environment 200 mayinclude a service requirements area 210 and a second entity requirementsand options area 220. The service requirements area 210 may include oneor more interactive elements for providing service inputs 212 to thecomputing environment 200 during the providing of the service. In anaspect, the service inputs 212 may correspond to inputs configured tocapture information required by the second entity (e.g., the serviceprovider) in order to provide the service. The second entityrequirements and options area 220 may include one or more interactiveelements for providing additional service inputs 222. In an aspect, theadditional service inputs 222 may correspond to a set of additionalinputs that may be used to customize information captured in connectionwith providing the service, such as to capture information that isbeneficial to the second entity (e.g., the partner), but which is notrequired by the first entity to provide the service. For example, in anaspect, the service inputs 212 may specify a minimum set of inputs ordata points (e.g., execution requirements) for capturing informationneeded to provide the service (e.g., to maintain compliance with anyapplicable government or industry specific regulations), and theadditional service inputs 222 may specify one or more additional inputsor data points that capture information that may be useful to the secondentity when providing the service. This may allow the second entity toapply a certain level of customization to the service, while allowingthe first entity to maintain and exert control over the underlyingfunctionality for providing the service, which may include regulatorycompliance and/or other internal or industry-based purposes. In anaspect, the second entity requirements and options area 220 may befurther configured to communicate information to the user. For example,in an aspect, the second entity requirements and options area 220 maypresent additional information 224 (e.g., information about otherservices and/or products offered by the second entity, promotionalinformation, news information, and the like) that may or may not beunrelated to the service.

The second execution layer 132 may control the presentation of thecomputing environment 200 while taking into account executionrequirements of the first execution layer 130, and the first executionlayer 130 may control the provisioning of the service offered to theuser via the computing environment 200. In an aspect, the executionrequirements of the first execution layer 130 may include the serviceinputs 212, and control over the provisioning of the service by thefirst execution layer 130 may include specifying what inputs areincluded in the service inputs 212. In an aspect, only the second entity(e.g., the service provider) may have the ability to alter or modify theservice inputs 212 and the first execution layer 130, thereby grantingsole authority over the underlying functionality and executionrequirements for providing the service. In an aspect, control over thepresentation of the computing environment 200, as provided by the secondexecution layer 132, may include controlling aspects associated with thelook and feel of the computing environment 200, such as the layout ofthe service requirements area 210 and second entity requirements andoptions area 220, the font, font color, font size, input mechanisms(e.g., text box, dropdown list, lookup table, etc.), what content orinformation is presented as the additional information 224, what inputsare provided in the additional service inputs 222, and the like. It isnoted that the boxes representing the service requirements area 210 andsecond entity requirements and option area 220 are provided for purposesof illustration, rather than by way of limitation, and that interactiveelements for capturing the information associated with servicerequirements area 210 and information associated with the second entityrequirements and option area 220, may be presented in any arrangement,as may be configured by the second entity using the second executionlayer control panel 134 of FIG. 1. Further, it is noted that while thesecond entity may use the second execution layer control panel 134 toadd interactive elements to, or remove interactive elements from, theinteractive elements associated with the second entity requirements andoptions 220, the second entity may not remove interactive elementsassociated with the service requirements area 210, and may only modifythe arrangement, placement, color, font, etc. of those interactiveelements. This configuration allows the second entity to control thelook and feel of the computing environment 200, while guaranteeing thatthe execution requirements (e.g., the information necessary to providethe service in compliance with any applicable regulations) specified bythe first entity are satisfied during providing of the service.

As briefly described above, in an aspect, the second execution layercontrol panel 134 may include and/or provide functionality that allowsthe second entity to configure aspects of the second execution layer132, such as, for example, the look and feel of the computingenvironment 200. When the computing environment 200 is presented as aweb page, for example, the second execution layer control panel 134 mayprovide the second entity with web-based access to the server 110, andmay enable the second entity to configure the layout of the computingenvironment 200, which may include configuring the arrangement andlayout of the interactive elements corresponding to the service inputs212, the additional service inputs 222, and the additional information224. It is noted that although the second execution layer control panel134 enables the second entity to configure the layout and look of theservice inputs 212, the second execution layer control panel 134 doesnot permit removal or other modifications to the service inputs 212. Forexample, if the service inputs 212 require input of a user's full nameto include the user's FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME, and LAST NAME, the secondexecution layer control panel 134 would not permit the partner toconfigure the computing environment 200 to only request the user's FIRSTNAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, and LAST NAME. However, the second execution layercontrol panel 134 would permit the partner to configure the additionalservice inputs 222 to capture additional information (e.g., informationthat is in addition to the information captured by the service inputs212). For example, if the service inputs 212 only required the user toprovide their FIRST NAME and LAST NAME, the second execution layercontrol panel 134 could be used to configure the computing environment200 to capture the user's FIRST NAME and LAST NAME as part of theservice inputs 212, and to configure the computing environment 200 tocapture the user's MIDDLE NAME or MIDDLE INITIAL as part of theadditional service inputs 222. Other examples of information that couldbe required as part of the service inputs 212 or additional serviceinputs 222 may include: the user's home address, business address, orboth; the user's home telephone number, work telephone number, cellulartelephone number, or a combination thereof; the user's citizenshipinformation; the user's employment information or history; personalreferences of the user; a picture of the user; the user's biometricinformation; financial card information; financial account information;social security number information; other types of information; or acombination of these types of information.

During the process of configuring the look and feel of the computingenvironment 200 using the second execution layer control panel 134,information may be generated and stored at the database 124 (e.g., asthe GUI configuration information). In an aspect, the generatedinformation may include extensible markup language (XML) data, hypertextmarkup language (HTML) data, or other information that may be used toconfigure and present the computing environment 200. When the service isrequested (e.g., in response to a request to present the computingenvironment 200) by a user, the second execution layer 132 may accessthe GUI configuration information stored at the database 124 toconfigure and present the computing environment 200 according to thelook and feel specified by the second entity. As indicated above,because the service inputs 212 cannot be removed, the second executionlayer 132 includes and/or provides a presentation layer that governs thepresentation of the computing environment 200 while taking into accountone or more required information fields of the first execution layer130. Once the service inputs 212, and any required additional serviceinputs 222 have been provided to the computing environment 200, thefirst execution layer 130 may execute a validation routine that verifiesthat all required information (e.g., at least the service inputs 212) ispresent and input correctly, and, if the validation routine is completedsuccessfully, the first execution layer 130 may execute additionaloperations to provide the underlying functionality that implements theservice for the requesting user.

In an aspect, in addition to providing a presentation layer that governsthe presentation of the computing environment 200, the second executionlayer 132 may further implement a second service provided by the secondentity. For example, the second entity may provide one or more existingservices to its users. In an aspect, these existing services maycorrespond to primary services provided by the second entity, and theservice provided by the first execution layer 130 may correspond to asecondary service that the second entity desires to provide to itsusers. Instead of developing and testing the infrastructure necessary toprovide the secondary service, the second entity may coordinate with thefirst entity to provide the service using the architecture illustratedin FIG. 1, which may minimize the costs for deploying the secondaryservice, and reduce or eliminate delays in introducing the service tothe second entity's users. In an additional or alternative aspect, theservice provided by the first execution layer 130 may be the primaryservice provided by the second entity, and the second service orservices provided by the second execution layer 132 may be secondaryservices that are complimentary to the primary service.

In an aspect, the server 110 may be hosted by the first entity. Thisarrangement may simplify the process of enabling the second entity todeploy the service, since the systems of the second entity, such asworkstations, or other systems at the partner location 150 may accessthe service via a communication interface (e.g., a communicationinterface similar to the communication interface 114 described above).In an additional or alternative aspect, the server 110 may be hosted bythe second entity, and may communicate with one or more systems of thefirst entity (not shown in FIG. 1) via the network 140 during theprovisioning of the service. This arrangement may also simplify theprocess of deploying the service because the second has already createdthe underlying functionality necessary to provide the service, and mayreadily deploy that functionality as the first execution layer 130.Thus, the server 110 only needs to be configured to include the firstexecution layer 130, and to provide the second execution layer 132, andthe second execution layer control panel 134, which perform presentationand formatting operations with respect to the service provided by thefirst execution layer 130. In still another additional or alternativeaspect, the server 110 may be hosted by both the second entity and thefirst entity. In this arrangement, the deployment of the service may beprovided by deploying the server 110 on a network, such as thenetwork(s) 140, that is accessible to existing systems of both the firstentity and the second entity. Additional aspects for providing splitcontrol of an execution environment according to the present disclosureare described below with reference to FIGS. 3-6.

Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating additional aspects ofa system for providing split control of an execution environment isshown as a system 300. As shown in FIG. 3, the system 300 includes apartner system 310, a partner location 320, a network(s) 330, a serviceprovider system 340, and a service provider location 350. In an aspect,the network(s) 330 may be the network 140 of FIG. 1. Additionally, in anaspect, the partner system 310 and the service provider system 340 mayinclude one or more components similar to the components of the server110 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, the partnersystem 310 and the service provider system 340 may each include one ormore processors, one or more memory devices storing instructions and/ordatabase information, network communication interfaces, I/O devices, andthe like. However, the system 300 differs from the system 100 of FIG. 1with respect to the deployment of the execution layers and secondexecution layer control panel. For example, in the system 300, thepartner system 310 includes a second execution layer 312 and a secondexecution layer control panel 314, while the service provider system 340includes a first execution layer 342. In an aspect, the first executionlayer 342 may be the first execution layer 130 of FIG. 1, the secondexecution layer 312 may be the second execution layer 132 of FIG. 1, andthe second execution layer control panel 314 may be the second executionlayer 134 of FIG. 1. Such an arrangement may provide better controland/or security in some aspects. For example, configuring the partnersystem 310 to only provide the second execution layer 312 and the secondexecution layer control panel 314, which relate to the presentation ofthe service and/or one or more additional services provided by thepartner may reduce or eliminate potential risk that a fraudster canexploit the operations of the first execution layer and correspondingservice. Further, such a configuration maintains a separation betweenthe system that presents the computing environment that provides accessto the service, and the system that provides the underlyingfunctionality required to provide the service. This may reduce thelikelihood that a compromise of one of the entities exposes the otherentity to risk. For example, if the partner system 310 is compromised,the service provider system 340 may prohibit the second execution layer312 and/or second execution layer control panel 314 from accessing thefirst execution layer 342, or vice-versa.

In an additional aspect, services provided by the system 300 may enableat least a portion of the service to be provided via a service providerlocation 350. For example, if the service is associated with movierentals, the service provider location 350 may correspond to a device orlocation where digital video discs (DVDs) may be picked up or droppedoff in connection with the movie rentals. Thus, the user may utilize apartner system 310 located at partner location 320 to rent a movie(which may include receiving the DVD, or receiving a code that may beutilized at the service provider location 350 to receive the DVD), andthen may return the movie to the service provider location, such as amovie rental kiosk, or, if the partner location also provides DVDs, themove may be returned at the partner location 320. The ability to utilizeboth partner locations and service provider locations to provide atleast a portion of the service may expand the coverage area where theservice may be provided.

Referring to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating additional aspects ofa system for providing split control of an execution environment isshown as a system 400. As shown in FIG. 4, the system 400 includes afirst partner system 410, a first partner location 414, a second partnersystem 420, a second partner location 424, a service provider system430, a service provider location 438, and a network(s) 440. In anaspect, the network(s) 440 may be the network 140 of FIG. 1. In anaspect, the partner systems 410, 420 and the service provider system 430may include one or more components similar to the components of theserver 110 described above with respect to FIG. 1. For example, thesesystems may each include one or more processors, one or more memorydevices storing instructions and/or database information, networkcommunication interfaces, I/O devices, and the like. However, the system400 differs from the system 300 of FIG. 3 and the system 100 of FIG. 1with respect to the execution layers. For example, in the system 400,the first partner system 410 includes a second execution layer controlpanel 412, but the second execution layer is provided as a secondexecution layer 434 by the service provider system 430. Similarly, thesecond partner system 420 may provide a second execution layer controlpanel 422, but a corresponding second execution layer 436 may beprovided by the service provider system 430.

The system 400 demonstrates additional aspects for distributingexecution layers that provide split control of a computing environment,and also demonstrates aspects of the present disclosure for providingadditional secondary execution layers dedicated to one or moreadditional entities. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first partnersystem 410 includes the second execution layer control panel 412 and thesecond partner system 420 includes the second execution layer controlpanel 422. Each of the respective partner entities may maintain controlover the presentation of the computing environment used to provide theservice via their respective control panels. At the service providersystem 430, a single first execution layer 432 is illustrated andprovides underlying functionality for providing a service to users ofboth the first partner system 410 and the second partner system 420. Inan aspect, the second execution layer 434 may facilitate presentation ofthe computing environment to the first partner system 410 or anotherdevice associated with the first partner (e.g., a device located at thepartner location 414) in accordance with a computing environmentconfiguration generated using the second execution layer control panel412, and the second execution layer 436 may facilitate presentation ofthe computing environment to the second partner system 420 or anotherdevice associated with the second partner (e.g., a device located at thesecond partner location 424) in accordance with a computing environmentconfiguration generated using the second execution layer control panel422. As described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3, aspects of thepresent disclosure may enable the service to be provided entirely by thepartner, such as only at partner location 414 and/or other locations ofthe first partnering entity, or may be provided via a combination ofpartner locations and service provider locations, such as at the secondpartner location 424 and service provider location 438.

Referring to FIG. 5, a block diagram illustrating aspects of a systemfor providing split control of an execution environment for providingmoney transfer services is shown as a system 500. As shown in FIG. 4,the system 500 includes a partner system 510, a partner location 520, anetwork(s) 530, a central server 540, and a money transfer agentlocation 550. The central server 540 may be a server operated by a moneytransfer entity that provides money transfer services.

The network(s) 530 may include a local area network (LAN), a wirelessLAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a publicnetwork (e.g., the Internet), a private network, a cellular datanetwork, another type of network, or a combination thereof. The network530 may operate according to one or more communication protocols, suchas a transport control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), an Ethernetprotocol, a cellular communication protocol (e.g., a 3^(rd) Generation(3G) wireless communication protocol, a 4^(th) Generation (4G)/long termevolution (LTE) wireless communication protocol, etc.), another wired orwireless communication protocol, or a combination thereof. In an aspect,the network 530 may include multiple networks operated by differententities, such as a first network operated by a first entity (e.g., thepartner) and a second network operated by a second entity (e.g., themoney transfer service provider).

In an aspect, the partner system 510 may be located at the partnerlocation 420. In an aspect, the partner system 510 may be a point ofsale (POS), an automated teller machine (ATM), a workstation, a mobiledevice, a tablet computing device, a personal computing device, a laptopcomputing device, or a combination thereof, located at the partnerlocation 520. In an additional or alternative aspect, the partner system510 may be a server operated as part of a private network of thepartner, where the private network provides interconnectivity andfunctionality to various systems located at partner locations, such POSsor workstations located at the partner location 520.

In an aspect of the system 500, the central server 540 may be configuredto provide a first execution layer (e.g., the first execution layer 130of FIG. 1), a second execution layer (e.g., the second execution layer132 of FIG. 1), and a second execution layer control panel (e.g., thesecond execution layer control panel 134 of FIG. 1). In this aspect, thepartner system 510, or another partner device, may be provided withweb-based access (e.g., via the network(s) 530) to the second executionlayer control panel to configure presentation related aspects of acomputing environment (e.g., the computing environment 200 of FIG. 2)that is to be presented to a user of a partner device located at thepartner location 520 to provide money transfer services. The computingenvironment may provide the user of the partner device with access toone or more money transfer services provided by the money transferservice provider. In an aspect, the configuration of the computingenvironment may be such that the computing environment used to providemoney transfer services is configured or branded to appear as though thepartner is the money transfer service provider. This allows the partnerto accrue “good will” from customers that utilize the money transferservices through the partner. Additionally, because the money transferservice provider is handling execution of the service (e.g., via thefirst execution layer), the partner can rely on the money transferservice provider's expertise in performing regulatory compliance checksrelated to fraud prevention, risk mitigation, regulatory complianceoperations and auditing, and the like. Further, by partnering with themoney transfer service provider, attempts to circumvent such regulationsmay be mitigated. For example, regulations may restrict the amount ofmoney that a person may send in a single money transfer, the totalamount of money that a person may send during a time period, or othertypes of limitations or restrictions. Because the money transfer serviceprovider is involved in the provisioning of the money transfer servicesthrough the partner, the money transfer service provider can more easilydetect whether an individual satisfies these restrictions. For example,if an individual performed money transfers with the money transferservice provider until at least one regulation restricted the individualfrom conducting additional money transfer transactions, and thenattempted to use the money transfer services provided by the partner tocircumvent the restrictions, such activity may be detected by the moneytransfer service provided by the first execution layer, therebypreventing the individual from circumventing the regulations.

In addition to the computing environment of the system 500 providing thepartner with capabilities to offer branded money transfer services, thecomputing environment may allow additional information (e.g., theadditional information 224 of FIG. 2) to be presented to the user. Forexample, in addition to facilitating operations to provide the moneytransfer service, the computing environment may be configured toprovide, as the additional information, coupons or other promotionaloffers, multimedia content (e.g., video content, audio content, imagecontent etc.) or other information related to products and/or servicesthat the partner may offer. In an aspect, the additional information maybe determined by a secondary service provided by the second executionlayer. For example, if the computing environment is presented at a POS,the secondary service may facilitate ringing up of items that may bepurchased by the consumer at the time the consumer requests the moneytransfer transaction. As another example, if the computing environmentis presented at a kiosk, the secondary service may be a movie rentalservice (e.g., a streaming and/or disk-based rental service), and theuser may rent a movie in addition to executing a money transfertransaction. Additional examples of products and services that may beprovided as either primary services or secondary services by the firstand second execution layers include: music purchases, ringtonepurchases, bill-pay services, prepaid card purchases, loading funds ontoprepaid card, purchasing cellular minutes on a prepaid cellular phone,and the like.

In an aspect, various security measures may be implemented by the system500 to provide data and transaction security/integrity. For example,prior to communicating information (e.g., the service information and/oradditional service information) input into the computing environment tothe central server 540 for processing by the first execution layer, theinformation may be encrypted. In an aspect, the encryption may beperformed according to an encryption standard specified by the moneytransfer service provider, which may be determined from informationstored in a database, such as the database 124 of FIG. 1). Additionally,a secure connection may be established between the device presenting thecomputing environment and the central server 540. In an aspect, at leasta portion of the information may be provided to the computingenvironment automatically. For example, if the user requesting the moneytransfer service has an account with the money transfer serviceprovider, the user may provide login credentials or other information(e.g., biometric information) to the computing environment, and thatinformation may be used to retrieve a profile of the user from thecentral server 540. Information from the user's profile may then beextracted and used to automatically populate portions of the serviceinformation and/or additional service information requested by thecomputing environment. In an aspect, the login credentials may beassociated with a profile or account that the user has with the partner,rather than an account with the money transfer service provider.

In an aspect, the money transfer service provider may place restrictionson the first execution layer that limit the services provided, dependingon the arrangement between the money transfer service provider and thepartner. For example, in an aspect, the first execution layer mayrestrict funding of money transfers made using the computing environmentprovided by the system 500 to money transfer agent locations, such asthe money transfer agent location 550. Thus, money transfer transactionsmade using the computing environment provided by the system 500 mayrequire that the receiving party visit a money transfer agent locationin order to receive funds in connection with the money transfer. Thismay allow the partner to provide money transfer services to itscustomers without requiring that the partner keep quantities of cash onhand for use in funding money transfers, which may be undesirable forsome partners. In an additional or alternative aspect, the firstexecution layer may permit funding of money transfers made at partnerlocations, such as the partner location 520, or at money transfer agentlocations, such as the money transfer agent location 550. This mayprovide a more robust network of locations where money transfertransactions may be funded (e.g., because the partner may operate inlocations where there are few, or no money transfer agent locations, andthe money transfer service provider may operate money transfer agentlocations in areas where the partner does not operate locations), whichmay allow the service to more easily be provided to potentiallyunder-served areas. In still other additional or alternative aspects,the first execution layer may restrict funding of money transfers topartner locations, such as the partner location 520. This may increasethe appearance that the money transfer service is provided in itsentirety by the partner, which may in turn increase the “good will” thatthe partner receives.

During operation, a user may visit the partner location 520 and mayinteract with an employee or device at the partner location 520 toperform a money transfer transaction. When the user interacts with adevice at the partner location 520 to perform the money transfertransaction, the device may be a kiosk device or other self-servicedevice that has been provided by the partner and configured to accessand/or execute the second execution layer to present the computingenvironment. When the user interacts with the employee at the partnerlocation 520, the employee may interact with a POS or other electronicdevice of the partner location 520 that is configured to access and/orexecute the second execution layer to present the computing environment.One or more input/output devices may be used to provide inputs to thecomputing environment to provide the service information and additionalservice information, if any. Once all inputs have been provided, theservice information may be provided to the first execution layer, whichthen performs various operations and functionality for providing themoney transfer service. For example, the first execution layer mayverify that the user and/or the receiving party are not identified in alist of persons prohibited from engaging in money transfer transaction,that the location where the money transfer transaction is to be fundedis valid (e.g., money transfer transactions to certain countries areprohibited by government regulations), that the money transfertransaction has been properly funded (e.g., no fraud or money launderingis detected), or other operations to validate the integrity andpropriety of the money transfer transaction.

If the transaction validation and integrity operations succeed and themoney transfer transaction is authorized to be completed, the moneytransfer transaction may be initiated, and a receipt may be provided tothe user. In an aspect, the receipt may include a code that may beprovided to the receiving party for use in obtaining funding of themoney transfer transaction. In an additional or alternative aspect, anotification (e.g., an e-mail, a text message, a multimedia message, anautomated voice response message, and the like) may be generated andsent to the receiving party, where the notification includes informationthat enables the receiving party to receive funds in connection with themoney transfer transaction. In still other additional or alternativeaspects, the money transfer transaction may be funded automatically bydepositing (e.g., using an electronic funds transfer (EFT)) the fundsinto an account (e.g., a bank account, a prepaid card account, etc.) ofthe receiving party. In an aspect, the first execution layer may providedifferent informational requirement depending on the type of moneytransfer transaction (e.g., cash-to-cash, cash-to-account,credit-to-cash, etc.), and the second execution layer control panel maybe used to configured different presentation formats for different moneytransfer transaction types. In an aspect, the second execution layer mayfurther present one or more questions at the computing environment todetermine the type of money transfer transaction (or another type ofservice) being requested, and then may select the appropriate computingenvironment configuration based on the determined type.

In an aspect, the inputs provided to the computing environment may beprovided to the first execution layer as they are received. For example,as the user provides information to the information fields of theservice inputs, that information may be securely provided to the firstexecution layer, which may then begin one or more validation andtransaction execution processes. This may include receiving inputsrepresentative of the sending party's name, which may then be providedto the first execution layer to validate that the sending party isauthorized to engage in the money transfer transaction. While thesending party's name information is being validated, inputsrepresentative of the amount of the requested money transfer transactionmay be received and provided to the first execution layer. If thesending party is authorized to engage in a money transfer transaction,the amount may then be analyzed to determine whether it satisfies one ormore regulatory restrictions. If, at any point during the provisioningof the service by the first execution layer, an error occurs, such as ifthe sending or receiving party is determined to not be authorized toengage in the requested money transfer transaction, or if the amount ofthe requested money transfer exceeds a regulatory limit, the firstexecution layer may provide an error message to the second executionlayer, which may cause the second execution layer to present informationrepresentative of the error to the user via the computing environment.Thus, the various execution layers of the system 500 may facilitatebi-directional communication during processing of requested service,which may streamline the process of providing the service to therequesting user. In some aspects, the second execution layer may presentother information for resolving the error, such as a telephone number ofthe service provider that may be called to seek clarification as to thecause of the error, or to resolve the error (e.g., if the user wasincorrectly identified as not authorized to participate in the requestedmoney transfer transaction). In an aspect, the telephone number may beconfigured such that the customer service representative of the moneytransfer service provider is aware that the user was requesting theservice through the partner, and may provide customer service to theuser as if the customer service representative was an agent of thepartner, rather than a representative of the money transfer serviceprovider. This may further reinforce that the partner is acting as theservice provider, which may further increase the “good will” accrued tothe partner by users of the system 500.

In an aspect, the partner may offer promotions that provide the serviceat a discounted rate. For example, if the partner is a chain ofconvenience stores, the partner may offer a free money transfertransaction for every $100 spent at partner locations. This may providean incentive for the users to utilize the service through the partner,rather than another existing entity that provides the service. In anaspect, the partner may pay the service provider a fee every time theservice is provided to one of the partner's users. In an additional oralternative aspect, the partner may pay a fee (e.g., monthly fee, aquarterly fee, a yearly fee, etc.) to the service provider in exchangefor facilitating the execution of the service (e.g,. in exchange for theservice provider providing the partner with access to the firstexecution layer).

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow diagram of a method for providing splitcontrol of a computing environment according to aspects of the presentdisclosure is shown as a method 600. In an aspect, the method 600 may bestored as instructions (e.g., the instructions 122 of FIG. 1) that, whenexecuted by one or more processors (e.g., the one or more processors 112of FIG. 1), cause the one or more processors to perform operations forproviding split control of a computing environment during provisioningof a service to an end user. In an aspect, the method 600 may beperformed by one or more of the systems described above with respect toFIGS. 1 and 3-5 to enable a partner to provide a service.

At 610, the method 600 includes configuring at least one server toexecute a first execution layer. As described with reference to FIGS.1-5 above, the first execution layer may correspond to a service that isimplemented by a first entity. In an aspect, the first entity may be aservice provider, such as a money transfer service provider, a streamingmedia service provider, or another type of service provider. At 620, themethod 600 includes configuring the at least one server to execute asecond execution layer. In an aspect, the second execution layer mayinclude a presentation layer that governs the presentation of acomputing environment (e.g., the computing environment 200 of FIG. 2)while taking into account execution requirements of the first executionlayer. At 630, the method 600 includes providing a second executionlayer control panel. In an aspect, the second execution layer controlpanel may provide control functionality to a second entity over one ormore configuration aspects of the secondary execution layer, asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

At 640, the method 600 may include providing the second entity withaccess to the at least one server in order to utilize the interactivecomputing environment. As described with reference to FIGS. 1-5, thevarious execution layers and the control panel may provide aninteractive computing environment that enables the second entity toprovide the service of the first entity to an end user while alsocontrolling the secondary execution layer, which controls presentationrelated aspects (e.g., the look and feel) of the computing environmentused to provide the service, as described above with reference to FIGS.1-5. It is noted that the method 600 may include providing additionalinstances of the second execution layer, such as to enable additionalpartnering entities to provide the service, and may also provideadditional instances of the second execution layer control panel toenable each of those additional partnering entities to customize thelook and feel of a computing environment for providing the service.Additionally, in an aspect, the method 600 may include providingadditional first execution layers corresponding to additional services,and computing environments for providing those additional services maybe customized using the second execution layer control panel accordingto aspects of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the method 600 provide techniques for implementing splitcontrol of an execution environment configured to provide one or moreservices. The second execution layer and second execution layer controlpanel provide a partnering entity to exert creative control and freedomover the computing environment utilized to provide the service(s), whilethe first execution layer allows a service provider to maintain controlover underlying functionality for providing the service. Such techniquesallow for rapid deployment of services to new audiences andmarketplaces, while reducing costs and delays for all parties involved.For example, the service provider does not have to invest ininfrastructure, such as new service provider locations, systems,networks, and employees to provide the service, and the partner does nothave to invest in the development of the infrastructure necessary toprovide the service.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronichardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performedwith a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with thedisclosure herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a softwaremodule executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. Asoftware module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in auser terminal.

In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computerstorage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by ageneral purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL), then the coaxial cable,fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or are included in the definition ofmedium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laserdisc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk andblu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Although embodiments of the present application and their advantageshave been described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges, substitutions and alterations can be made herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by theappended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is notintended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process,machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and stepsdescribed in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art willreadily appreciate from the above disclosure, processes, machines,manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presentlyexisting or later to be developed that perform substantially the samefunction or achieve substantially the same result as the correspondingembodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appendedclaims are intended to include within their scope such processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a computing environmentthat executes services from a plurality of entities, said methodcomprising: configuring at least one server to execute a primaryexecution layer, said primary execution layer corresponding to a primaryservice that is implemented by a first entity; configuring said at leastone server to execute a secondary execution layer, said secondaryexecution layer including a presentation layer that governs thepresentation of the computing environment while taking into accountexecution requirements of the primary execution layer; providing asecondary execution layer partner control panel, said secondaryexecution layer partner control panel configured to provide controlfunctionality to a second entity over one or more configuration aspectsof the secondary execution layer; and providing said second entity withaccess to the at least one server in order to utilize the interactivecomputing environment, wherein said second entity is able to providesaid primary service of said first entity to an end user while alsocontrolling the secondary execution layer, including controlling thepresentation of the computing environment which facilitates said primaryservice.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary execution layerimplements a secondary service provided by the second entity.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the secondary service includes one or more ofproviding coupon offers, providing video content, providing audiocontent, providing bill pay services, prepaid card service, prepaidcellular services, or a combination thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein providing the secondary execution layer partner control panelincludes providing a web-based access to the at least one server to thesecond entity.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one serveris a server hosted by the first entity.
 6. The method of claim 1 whereinthe at least one server is hosted by a combination of both the first andsecond entity.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuringsaid at least one server to provide additional secondary executionlayers dedicated to one or more additional entities, wherein saidadditional entities are able to provide said primary service of saidfirst entity to an end user while also controlling the additionalsecondary execution layers corresponding to each individual additionalentities, including controlling the presentation of the computingenvironment which facilitates said primary service.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein execution requirements of the primary service includesproviding one or more required information fields.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: providing a user workstation deviceassociated with the second entity, said workstation device configured toexecute the primary and secondary execution layers and to provide thefirst service to a user while providing a configured presentationenvironment associated with the second entity.
 10. The method of claim 9wherein the user workstation device includes one or more of apoint-of-sale device, a mobile device, a tablet computing device, apersonal computing device, a laptop computing device, and an automatedteller machine.
 11. A system for providing a computing environment thatexecutes services from a plurality of entities, said system comprising:at least one server configured to: execute a primary execution layer,said primary execution layer corresponding to a primary service that isimplemented by a first entity; execute a secondary execution layer, saidsecondary execution layer including a presentation layer that governsthe presentation of the computing environment while taking into accountexecution requirements of the primary execution layer; provide asecondary execution layer partner control panel, said secondaryexecution layer partner control panel configured to provide controlfunctionality to a second entity over one or more configuration aspectsof the secondary execution layer; and provide said second entity withaccess to the at least one server in order to utilize the interactivecomputing environment, wherein said second entity is able to providesaid primary service of said first entity to an end user while alsocontrolling the secondary execution layer, including controlling thepresentation of the computing environment which facilitates said primaryservice.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the secondary executionlayer implements a secondary service provided by the second entity. 13.The system of claim 12 wherein the secondary service includes one ormore of providing coupon offers, providing video content, providingaudio content, providing bill pay services, prepaid card service,prepaid cellular services, or a combination thereof.
 14. The system ofclaim 11 wherein providing the secondary execution layer partner controlpanel includes providing a web-based access to the at least one serverto the second entity.
 15. The system of claim 11 wherein the at leastone server is a server hosted by the first entity.
 16. The system ofclaim 11 said at least one server further configured to provideadditional secondary execution layers dedicated to one or moreadditional entities, wherein said additional entities are able toprovide said primary service of said first entity to an end user whilealso controlling the additional secondary execution layers correspondingto each individual additional entities, including controlling thepresentation of the computing environment which facilitates said primaryservice.
 17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations for providing a computingenvironment that executes services from a plurality of entities, saidoperations comprising: configuring at least one server to execute aprimary execution layer, said primary execution layer corresponding to aprimary service that is implemented by a first entity; configuring saidat least one server to execute a secondary execution layer, saidsecondary execution layer including a presentation layer that governsthe presentation of the computing environment while taking into accountexecution requirements of the primary execution layer; providing asecondary execution layer partner control panel, said secondaryexecution layer partner control panel configured to provide controlfunctionality to a second entity over one or more configuration aspectsof the secondary execution layer; and providing said second entity withaccess to the at least one server in order to utilize the interactivecomputing environment, wherein said second entity is able to providesaid primary service of said first entity to an end user while alsocontrolling the secondary execution layer, including controlling thepresentation of the computing environment which facilitates said primaryservice.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 17 wherein the secondary execution layer implements a secondaryservice provided by the second entity.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17 the operations furthercomprising configuring said at least one server to provide additionalsecondary execution layers dedicated to one or more additional entities,wherein said additional entities are able to provide said primaryservice of said first entity to an end user while also controlling theadditional secondary execution layers corresponding to each individualadditional entities, including controlling the presentation of thecomputing environment which facilitates said primary service.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 whereinproviding the secondary execution layer partner control panel includesproviding a web-based access to the at least one server to the secondentity.